Former Dolphins coach Flores: Racial discrimination lawsuit ‘is bigger than football’
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Brian Flores lawsuit rocks NFL
Brian Flores sues the NFL for racial discrimination, alleging that Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross bribed him to “tank” in 2019.
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Brian Flores said Wednesday he understands “the risk” he takes by filing a lawsuit against the NFL and the Miami Dolphins, alleging racial discrimination in its hiring and firing processes, and he still “absolutely” wants to coach in the league again, but, “I also know that I’m not the only story here.”
“I’m not the only one with a story to tell,” the former Dolphins coach told “CBS Mornings.” “There are people of color before me and I know there are others who have similar stories, and it’s hard to speak out. It is. You’re making some sacrifices, but, again, this is bigger than football, this is bigger than coaching.”
Less than 24 hours after filing a bombshell 58-page class action lawsuit, Flores began a media tour Wednesday by appearing on CBS to discuss his decision to sue the NFL and shed more light on the timeline of events leading up to the suit. He also made appearances on CNN’s “New Day” and ESPN’s “Get Up” later Wednesday.
Flores, who coached the Dolphins for three seasons before being fired last month, interviewed with the New York Giants on Thursday, three days after New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick mistakenly texted him and inadvertently revealed to Flores, the former coach suggested, that Brian Daboll had already been chosen for the job.
According to the lawsuit, Belichick sent a text of congratulations to Flores last Monday, when he actually meant to text Daboll, whom the Giants officially hired Friday.
“I [expletive] up,” Belichick said in the message, according to the suit. “I think they are naming Daboll.”
Flores said he felt “humiliation, disbelief, anger” when he found out he was going to New York for “a sham interview.” He believes the team only conducted to fulfill the Rooney Rule, which requires organizations to interview at least two external minority candidates for coaching vacancies.
“I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am in football, to become a head coach,” Flores said. “I’ve put 18 years in this league and, to go on what felt like or what was a sham interview, I was hurt.”
After the text mix-up, Flores started to draft a lawsuit with Wigdor LLP and Elefterakis, Elefterakis & Panek. The attorneys informed CBS of the suit last Wednesday.
Douglas Wigdor later told CNN no other coaches or former coaches have signed on to the suit, “but there will be.”
Hue Jackson, who coached the Cleveland Browns from 2016-18 and is now the coach of the FCS Grambling State Tigers, was scheduled to talk with Flores’ attorneys as early as Wednesday, Yahoo! Sports reported, and could join the suit.
“We’re in contact with people who have reached out to us, expressing similarities which we know exist, and a desire to come on board and follow Brian’s lead,” John Elefterakis told CNN.
New York Jets coach Robert Saleh, whose staff is coaching the National team at the Senior Bowl this week in Alabama, said he didn’t know much about the lawsuit but called Flores a “phenomenal coach” and “stand-up guy.”
Saleh, the first Muslim coach in NFL history and third Arab American coach, tapped tight ends coach Ron Middleton to be acting head coach as part of an initiative to expand leadership opportunities for minorities at the Senior Bowl. Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell designated running backs coach Duce Staley to lead the American team.
Both Middleton and Staley are Black, and coaches from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are assisting the staffs as part of a minority coaching fellowship program to introduce HBCU coaches to NFL decision-makers.
“I do think that with the leadership of [NFL executive vice president of football operations] Troy Vincent,” Saleh said, “and all the different people at the NFL office, I know they’re working diligently to rectify and thrust minorities into prominent roles. Is it tough right now? For sure. But I know the NFL is trying hard.”
Since being fired by the Dolphins, Flores has interviewed for four positions, including the Giants’ opening. He also interviewed with the Houston Texans on Monday and the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday in Mobile. Flores said he informed both the Texans and the Saints about the suit, and New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis told reporters Flores informed him about the suit after their interview had concluded.
Flores told CNN he remains “hopeful” he’ll land one of those jobs, and neither the Saints nor Texans have made a hire yet.
If he gets offered, “I’m coaching football,” Flores said, but he also won’t drop the suit.
When asked, Flores stumbled over his tongue for a moment, almost as if he was in disbelief at the question.
“No. No,” he said. “We need change. That’s what we need. We need change. This is about changing the hiring practices in the National Football League. That’s what the lawsuit was about. I want to coach football. That’s what I’m called to do.”
At the end of the interview, CNN’s John Berman asked Flores, “If it turns out you’ve coached your last NFL football game, how would you feel?”
Flores paused for a second and then answered.
“If there’s change,” he said, “it’ll be worth it.”
This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 8:33 AM.
